Five - Star First for Southport?

A PLANNING application submitted this week for a new and exciting project on Southport's prestigious Lord Street Boulevard to open a new hotel in the seaside resort.

Paul Adams of the town's leading restaurant, The Warehouse Brasserie, has applied to Sefton Planning Authorities for the construction of Southport's first ever five star boutique Hotel. 

The plans drawn up in consultation with English Heritage, include the re-building of the town's former ABC cinema to create a modern and futuristic hotel that will be 'an architecturally exciting listed building of the 21st Century.'

Designed by the London-based architect, Andre Wong, 'The Warehouse Hotel' will feature a wide range of facilities, including a gourmet restaurant, a world-class spa, a fashionable lobby bar area and fully equipped conference and function rooms. The hotel's 80 bedrooms and exclusive suites will be priced in the region of £120-£500 per night.

If given the go-ahead, the development will be Lord Street's first newly built hotel in decades and is expected to bring a wide range of community, commercial and cultural benefits to Southport, contributing to its redevelopment as a world class tourist area.

Over 70 new jobs will be created and the private investment will total in excess of £9 million. It is also expected to attract top-end tourists bringing huge commercial benefits to the local business community. 

Paul Adams said:- "The development will offer a wider choice of options for guests visiting Southport for either business or pleasure. An up-market establishment will attract more visitors to the town thus creating wealth for the local business community."

Empty Hotel Faces CPO

LIVERPOOL City Council is set to buy a disused hotel after hearing that uncertainty over the building's future was hindering regeneration in the city centre.

The Council's Executive Board is to consider a report on March 19 recommending that it use its power to Compulsory Purchase Order of the Scandinavia Hotel in Nelson Street.

The report concluded that despite lengthy attempts at negotiations no progress on the future of the building has been made and that it has had 'a prolonged negative impact' on an important area of the city centre.

The CPO of the hotel and the neighbouring restaurant would allow Downing Developments, who have planning permission for a hotel, office and residential development, to go ahead with their scheme. 

The majority of the site is owned by Mr Shook Kwan Wong with Frensons owning part of the site. It is understood that negotiations are continuing with Frensons but it is unlikely that successful negotiations can be concluded with Mr Wong. The report notes that "Mr Wong is not willing to dispose of his interest at a realistic value."

Councillor Peter Millea, Executive Member for Regeneration said:- "The Scandinavia Hotel is a very significant building on a key gateway route into the city in the Duke Street conservation area.

However, it has been a blight on the city for many years now and the fact that it is not used is holding up regeneration in the Ropewalks area. We now have a bona fide developer with planning permission develop the site but the ownership issue is holding them up.

There has been a lot of frustration over the hold -up in the regeneration of the area. There are no likely prospects of there being a negotiated settlement. The only realistic way forward is for this site to be compulsorily purchased so that we can see this key area developed in time for 2008."

Car Stolen from Marshside, Southport

POLICE on Merseyside are appealing for information about the theft of a motor vehicle in Southport.

It is believed that between the hours of 7:30pm and 11:30pm on Sunday 22nd February a high value, convertible, blue Lotus Elise was stolen from an address on Truro Avenue, Marshside, Southport.

The car“s registration number is Y784 UGW. 

The stolen car is similar to the car pictured above.

Anyone who witnessed the car being stolen or has information about its whereabouts is asked to call Crimestoppers.